Ragley Rodwell or Focus Mares?

Im in to minds, Im not sure if I should Build a Ragley Rodwell from scratch or Just buy the Focus Mares, After spec'ing up a Ragley its going to work out £250 dearer then just going and buying the similar spec'ed focus!

I only really fancy the Ragley for the colour!I know a Cheap place for spraying so could always change the focus.

Also Tempted to sell my Singular to pay for it (would make the Wife happy!) as I got to go the Finance route.

Are there any other options around the 750 - 1250 mark? 0% finance would be nice

Cheers Steve

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DaveP[412 posts]6 years ago

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Having ridden Brant's bikes in the past I can imagine the Rodwell is a good ride... And I know you can buy a 'full' bike for less, but building 'your own' bike adds another level of connection. My vote is for the Ragley

I was tempted by a Road bike, but there is nothing I like out there with a similar spec - price as building the Ragley or buying the Focus cross bike, I would like to get a vitus 979 again, but are still quite alot for a old bike!

Plus the Wiltshire roads are pants, so fancied a Crosser with road bike kit, 105 or similar.

I've just built up a Kinesis Crosslight FiveT. I was considering the Ragley, but I wanted to use the new Kinesis fork with built-in cable hanger. I wasn't super impressed with the finish of the Kinesis frame though.

First, it was missing the barrel adjusters for the front derailleur and rear brakes. UpgradeBikes sent me some adjusters in the post, which were good for the brake mount, but weren't the fat indexed ones used for gear bosses. I bought a pair of gear boss barrels off eBay.

Secondly, I found that the rear brake mounts weren't accurately aligned. To get the rear brake working I put the spring on one side in the middle hole, and in an end hole on the other side. And with the spring tension bolts on the brakes at the opposite ends of their travels on either side, I got the brake centred!

Thirdly, the weld behind the bottom bracket is very fat, so the front derailleur wire rubs it.

Fourthly, it has rack mounts, but the design of the dropout is such that the seatstays interfere badly with the stays from a rack. I had to file a lot of metal away from my rack to get it to fit.

I'm with you that a crosser is a very versatile frame. And in answer to your Focus vs Ragley question I'm saying "not Kinesis"!

Well I think im pretty set on a Ragley, just trying to find out about some groupset, Founds a nice deal on a Veloce set up from Geoffrey Butler cycles, but also have considered shimano 105 and Sram Apex or Rival. See what happens, Knowing my luck the CRC sale will end before I get my Life sorted! waiting on cards now